Usk Prison

Book and plan your visit to Usk

To visit someone in Usk you must:

• be on that person’s visitor list
• book your visit in advance
• have the required ID with you when you go

At least one visitor must be 18 or older at every visit.

There may be a limit to the number of visits a prisoner can have. You can check this with Usk.

Contact Usk if you have any questions about visiting.

Help with the cost of your visit

If you get certain benefits or have an NHS health certificate, you might be able to get help with the costs of your visit, including:

• travel to Usk
• somewhere to stay overnight
• meals

How to book family and friends visits

You can book your visit online or by telephone.

Telephone booking line: 01291 673 730

The booking line is open: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 5pm to 7pm
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Visiting Times:

• Tuesday, 2pm to 4pm
• Wednesday, 2pm to 4pm and 5pm to 7pm
• Thursday, 2pm to 4pm
• Friday, 2pm to 4pm
• Saturday, 2pm to 4pm
• Sunday, 2pm to 4pm

How to book legalofficial and professional visits

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Booking

• telephone, lines number 01291 671 730
  

The booking line is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 11am and 2pm to 4pm

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VisitingOfficial times:face to face visits:

• TuesdayMonday andto Wednesday,Friday, 9am to midday and 2pm to 4pm

Getting to Usk

Find Usk on a map

The closest railway station is Newport. From there you can get a taxi or take the bus direct to Usk town.

To plan your journey by public transport:

• use National Rail Enquiries
• use Traveline for local bus times

There is a free visitors car park.

There is also a disabled visitors car parking area outside the prison.

Entering Usk

All visitors, aged 16 or older must prove their identity before entering the prison. Read the list of acceptable forms of ID when visiting a prison.

All visitors including children will be given a pat-down search. Security dogs may also be present. The process will be fully explained to you before the search.

Visitors must follow the prison dress code that applies, further details can be requested on your first visit.

There are strict controls on what you can take into Usk. You will be asked to leave all your belongings locked in your vehicle. This includes pushchairs and car seats.

For those without a vehicle a small number of lockers are available.

There are basic rules that you must follow during your visit. These are well documented in the visits room and will be explained to you on your request.

If you break these rules your visit could be cancelled and, if serious, you could be banned from visiting again.

Call the booking line if you have any questions about visiting.

Visiting facilities

There is no visitors centre at Usk. There is a small reception room in the gate area.

Family days

Usk runs extra Adults and Children family day visits throughout the year.

Dates of these will be advertised internally for prisoners to view.

You do not need to book these visits; the prisoner you are visiting will book them.

Keep in touch with someone at Usk

There are several ways you can keep in touch with a prisoner during their time at Usk.

Secure video calls

Every prisoner is allowed one 30-minute video call a month.

If they do not receive visits within the prison, they can apply for an extra video call a month.

Video call sessions (30-minute slots) are available:

• Monday, 1:45pm to 6:15pm
• Thursday, 1:45pm to 6:15pm
• Saturday, 8:45am to 11:45am

How to book a secure video call

To have a secure video call with someone in this prison you need to:

• Download the Prison Video app
• Create an account
• Register all visitors
• Add the prisoner to your contact list.

You can request a secure video call with someone in this prison via the Prison Video app.

You will receive a notification when your request has been accepted.

Read more about how it works

Phone calls

All cells in Usk have a phone in them for prisoners to call you.

They can only phone people on their approved list.

Prisoners have the opportunity each week to buy phone credits to do this.

Prisoners must apply to have numbers added to their list.

When they do the prison will contact that person to ensure that they are happy to have contact. If you want to stop receiving calls from a prisoner you can use the Unwanted Prisoner Contact Service.

Officers listen to random phone calls as a way of preventing crime and helping keep people safe.

The phones are turned on:

• Monday to Friday, 7am to 8:15am, 11:15am to 1:45pm and 4pm to 9:30pm
• Saturday, 8am to 10pm
• Sunday, 8am to 10pm

You can also exchange voicemails using the Prison Voicemail service.

Officers may listen to phone calls as a way of preventing crime and helping keep people safe.

You can also exchange voicemails using the Prison Voicemail service.

Officers may listen to phone calls as a way of preventing crime and helping keep people safe.

Email

You can send emails to someone in Usk using the Email a Prisoner service.

You might also be able to attach photos and receive replies from the prisoner, depending on the rules at Usk.

Letters

You can write at any time.

Include the person’s name and prisoner number on the envelope.

If you do not know their prisoner number, contact Usk.

All post, apart from legal letters, will be opened and checked by officers.

Send money and gifts

You can use the free and fast online service to send money to someone in prison.

You can also send postal orders and cheques. These should be made payable to ‘NOMS Agency’ and include the prisoners name and prisoner number on the back.

Gifts and parcels

Prisoners in Usk are given a facilities list which details items that can be sent to them by post. Contact Usk for more information on what’s allowed.

Make sure to include the person’s name and prisoner number on the parcel.

Do not send in a parcel until the prisoner confirms that it has been approved.

All parcels will be opened and checked by officers.

Life at Usk

Usk is committed to providing a safe and educational environment where prisoners can learn new skills to help them on release.

Security and safeguarding

Every prisoner at Usk has a right to feel safe. The staff are responsible for their safeguarding and welfare at all times.

For further information about what to do when you are worried or concerned about someone in prison visit the Prisoners’ Families helpline website.

Arrival and first night

When a prisoner first arrives at Usk, they will be able to contact a family member by phone. This could be quite late in the evening, depending on the time they arrive. It will be in the presence of an officer.

They will also get to speak to healthcare staff who will check how they’re feeling and ask about any immediate health and wellbeing needs.

Induction

Each prisoner who arrives at Usk gets an induction that lasts about a week. They will meet professionals who will help them with:

• health and wellbeing, including mental and sexual health
• any substance misuse issues, including drugs and alcohol
• personal development in custody and on release, including skills, education and training
• other support (sometimes called ‘interventions’), such as managing difficult emotions

Everyone also finds out about the rules, fire safety, and how things like calls and visits work.

Accommodation

286 prisoners live in HMP Usk. Most live in shared cells across the 3 main wings, called A wing, B wing and C wing.

Prisoners on the ‘enhanced’ behaviour level can apply to live in D Wing, which is a separate dormitory style unit.

There are TVs and phones in all cells.

There are indoor and outdoor gym facilities offering a range of activities for prisoners of all physical abilities.

Usk has a diverse, multi-faith chaplaincy team providing support to prisoners.

Education and work

Prisoners have access to a broad programme of learning opportunities, ranging from basic skills, such as literacy, numeracy, computing skills and employability, to higher learning and qualifications. The programme also includes training in a variety of trades and professions, including:

• health and safety
• food safety
• wellbeing
• business studies
• woodcraft
• bricklaying

Work is available throughout the prison and in the industrial workshops.

Usk also runs a number of accredited offending behaviour programme courses.

Support for family and friends

Find out about advice and helplines for family and friends.

To contact our head of family provision at HMP Usk email: resettlement.usk@justice.co.uk.

Support at Usk

Family services at Usk are provided by Invisible Walls.

Concerns, problems and complaints

Contact category	Phone number	Additional information
Non-emergency	01291 671 703	Call this number if you have concerns about a prisoner’s safety or wellbeing which are serious but not life-threatening or complete a safer custody contact form on the Prisoners’ Families Helpline website.
Staff Integrity Hotline	0800 917 6877 (24 hours answering machine)	This number can be called anonymously. If you are concerned about a prisoner being bullied by a member of staff, you can use this number. As this line is managed separately from the prison, you can call this number anonymously.
Prisoners’ Families Helpline	0808 808 2003	The Prisoners’ Families Helpline can provide confidential support, advice and guidance.
Unwanted Prisoner Contact	0300 060 6699	If a prisoner is contacting you and you want them to stop, you can use the Unwanted Prisoner Contact Service. You can complete the Stop prisoner contact online form, email unwantedprisonercontact@justice.gov.uk or contact by phone.

Problems and complaints

If you have any other problem contact Usk.

Inspection reports

HM Prison and Probation Service publishes action plans for Usk in response to independent inspections.

Contact Usk

Governor: Rob Denman

Telephone (24 hours): 01291 671 600
Fax: 01291 671 752
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Address

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